Cause of SpaceX Explosion Determined

The unmanned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded nearly three minutes into its ascent into the heavens, and Space X now believes they have determined the cause.

At a news conference on Monday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the preliminary conclusion is a "strut in the second stage liquid oxygen tank" broke free during the rocket's flight.

Exit Theatre Mode

Musk said the SpaceX teams believes that the helium bottle broke free and twisted, which may "have pinched off the line to the helium manifold." This would have restored pressure in the helium system, but it would have "released enough helium into the liquid oxygen tank to cause the liquid oxygen tank to fail."

For future launches, Musk said each strut will be individually tested. "This will result in some cost increase to the rocket, but not, we believe, of a significant amount."